Lovejoy experienced reawakening in 1832. He joined the Princeton Seminary. After a while he started the Observer; a religious paper whose first issues concerned religion. He used the Observer to "express his Christian beliefs" and "affect the public opinion through Journalism." Lovejoy often alienated one group or another with some of the topics posed in the paper. Lovejoy formerly owned the St. Louis Times, in which an edition there was a call for mob against a woman who started a Sunday school for African Americans. Elijah didn't have an interest in slavery issues when the call was published, but he did believe in the right of education for slaves. His religious beliefs did not coexist with the practice of slavery.
Lovejoy was not a radical abolitionist. He believed in the transition of a slavery free nation. He was also one of the few evangelists to openly scorn slavery. As time progressed his issues became less and less cryptic in the slavery issue. Friends and other religious leaders urged him to stop writing so openly about such a contraversial topic. Lovejoy's views intensified after the mod murder of Francis McIntosh, a free African American. In the Observer, Lovejoy called the murder a "savage barbarity." The judge to the trial, Judge Lawless, stated that Elijiah's anti-slavery paraphernalia was the cause of the mob. This infuriated Lovejoy. He decided that it was his job to enfore the laws on the mobs. This gained great disapproval and Lovejoy and his family mover to Illinois for safety. Lovejoy had no filter in his writing, especially about the contraversial topic of slavery. In 1837 he started an anti-slavery petition in his town of Alton. He also organized a meeting for the antislavery society." As opposition grew, so did Elijah Lovejoy's courage. In early issues of the Observer, Lovejoy said slavery was a sin. Now he was saying those who don't fight slavery—which was a majority of citizens—"are fighting against God.""
Federal Assistance:
Lovejoy's movement was almost entirely through the press. People were taking offense to what he wrote. Lovejoy could have recieved help from the federal government through protection for his writings. He was constantly worried about his freedom of press, which was restricted by the mobs that ran rampant. If the government had enforced laws against mobs or for freedom of press, Lovejoy might actually have lived to see his 38th birthday.
Questions:
- Religious reformation comes with increased interest in the morals and ethics of white man. How do you relate your beliefs of a more ethical society, to slavery and the infringment of African American rights?
- You are a advocate of woman's rights, so you understand what it means to go through life without a voice. Do you believe that African Americans deserve a voice in our communities as well, or are you a hypocrite?
Relationships:
Lyman Beecher: Elijah Lovejoy and Lyman Beecher were both religious reformers. Lovejoy was close friends with Lyman's son Endward Beecher, who was with Lovejoy on the night of his murder. Both Lyman Beecher and his son shared the same religious views, although Edwards were more liberal. Lyman also preached about anti-slavery, as did Lovejoy.
Prudence Crandall: Both Crandall and Lovejoy were reformers for African American rights. Crandall can be compared to the woman who started the Sunday school for blacks, which sparked Lovejoys abolitionism. Crandall opened a school for black girls, while Lovejoy opened a high school and was an abolitionist.
Elijah Lovejoy
November 8, 1802- November 7, 1837Lovejoy experienced reawakening in 1832. He joined the Princeton Seminary. After a while he started the Observer; a religious paper whose first issues concerned religion. He used the Observer to "express his Christian beliefs" and "affect the public opinion through Journalism." Lovejoy often alienated one group or another with some of the topics posed in the paper. Lovejoy formerly owned the St. Louis Times, in which an edition there was a call for mob against a woman who started a Sunday school for African Americans. Elijah didn't have an interest in slavery issues when the call was published, but he did believe in the right of education for slaves. His religious beliefs did not coexist with the practice of slavery.
Lovejoy was not a radical abolitionist. He believed in the transition of a slavery free nation. He was also one of the few evangelists to openly scorn slavery. As time progressed his issues became less and less cryptic in the slavery issue. Friends and other religious leaders urged him to stop writing so openly about such a contraversial topic. Lovejoy's views intensified after the mod murder of Francis McIntosh, a free African American. In the Observer, Lovejoy called the murder a "savage barbarity." The judge to the trial, Judge Lawless, stated that Elijiah's anti-slavery paraphernalia was the cause of the mob. This infuriated Lovejoy. He decided that it was his job to enfore the laws on the mobs. This gained great disapproval and Lovejoy and his family mover to Illinois for safety. Lovejoy had no filter in his writing, especially about the contraversial topic of slavery. In 1837 he started an anti-slavery petition in his town of Alton. He also organized a meeting for the antislavery society." As opposition grew, so did Elijah Lovejoy's courage. In early issues of the Observer, Lovejoy said slavery was a sin. Now he was saying those who don't fight slavery—which was a majority of citizens—"are fighting against God.""
Federal Assistance:
Lovejoy's movement was almost entirely through the press. People were taking offense to what he wrote. Lovejoy could have recieved help from the federal government through protection for his writings. He was constantly worried about his freedom of press, which was restricted by the mobs that ran rampant. If the government had enforced laws against mobs or for freedom of press, Lovejoy might actually have lived to see his 38th birthday.
Questions:
- Religious reformation comes with increased interest in the morals and ethics of white man. How do you relate your beliefs of a more ethical society, to slavery and the infringment of African American rights?
- You are a advocate of woman's rights, so you understand what it means to go through life without a voice. Do you believe that African Americans deserve a voice in our communities as well, or are you a hypocrite?
Relationships:
Lyman Beecher: Elijah Lovejoy and Lyman Beecher were both religious reformers. Lovejoy was close friends with Lyman's son Endward Beecher, who was with Lovejoy on the night of his murder. Both Lyman Beecher and his son shared the same religious views, although Edwards were more liberal. Lyman also preached about anti-slavery, as did Lovejoy.
Prudence Crandall: Both Crandall and Lovejoy were reformers for African American rights. Crandall can be compared to the woman who started the Sunday school for blacks, which sparked Lovejoys abolitionism. Crandall opened a school for black girls, while Lovejoy opened a high school and was an abolitionist.
Works Cited:
Dammon, Doug. "Elijah Lovejoy." Table. Illinois State Historical Library, 28 Feb. 2001. Web. 01 Oct. 2012. http://www.state.il.us/hpa/lovejoy/table.htm.
"Elijah Lovejoy - The Final Showdown." BEALL MANSION An Elegant Bed & Breakfast. Beall Mansion, n.d. Web. 01 Oct. 2012. http://www.beallmansion.com/about/History/AltonHistory/ElijahLovejoy/FinalShowdown.html.
"Elijah Parish Lovejoy." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 30 Sept. 2012. Web. 01 Oct. 2012. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elijah_Parish_Lovejoy.